Headline: Arsenal’s William Saliba Aims for Gradual Return to Fitness Following Injury
Arsenal fans may have experienced a moment of concern when William Saliba’s name was absent from the squad against Hull City, particularly after his recent return from injury.
However, there is no need for alarm.
Saliba has been sidelined since the summer due to a back injury he sustained while playing for France during the World Cup.
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The talented center-back has been diligently working towards regaining his full fitness. He was named on the bench for Arsenal’s triumph over Slavia Prague on Wednesday, yet did not make an appearance.
Latest William Saliba update
Many anticipated that Saliba would once again be on the bench for Arsenal’s match against Hull City on Saturday, potentially playing a few minutes, but he was ultimately left out of the squad.
“He needs some minutes,” Arteta informed BBC Sport prior to the game against Hull City.
“Obviously, the Champions League allows you to bring more players into the bench, but we believe that it’s the best thing to do, to play some minutes on the weekend with under-21s and then be fully fit for the international break.”
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What’s the next step for William Saliba?
Arsenal is set to host Aston Villa in a Premier League 2 fixture on Sunday, providing Saliba the opportunity to feature, and all eyes will be keenly watching how the exceptional center-back performs.
Saliba has not been selected for the French national team by Zinedine Zidane for the upcoming international break, allowing him to focus on his fitness at Arsenal’s training facility over the next few weeks.
It’s a wise decision from Arteta to avoid rushing Saliba back into play, especially considering the strong form of summer signing Ezri Konsa, which has minimized the urgency to expedite Saliba’s recovery.
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Following the international break, Arsenal faces a demanding schedule, squaring off against Newcastle, Dortmund, Man City, Brentford, Spurs, Real Madrid, Bournemouth, and Manchester United in a challenging eight-game stretch leading up to the festive season.
Arteta will require every player to navigate this rigorous period, and Saliba will likely need to reintegrate into the squad gradually, as Konsa continues to perform admirably.
